Sears ticked me off!

[lvhocken]

My new in-laws gave me a $300 Sears gift card for a wedding gift because there is a table and chair set that I want from the online catalog. When I went to order it, I found out that you can't use gift cards to order online products. I went to the store, they can't order it for me because there is no more catalog department (they call it Sears Shop at Home).

Get this, their suggestion is that I purchase something else (which I don't want or need) with the gift certificate and use my own money to buy the table. Talk about wasting time, money, space and resources! Also, since gift cards cannot be applied to Sears Credit Card accounts, I can't have someone else order it for me with their Sears Card and let them use the gift card to reimburse their account.

On top of not being able to get the item I need, the woman at the store actually had the nerve to suggest that I apply for a Sears card! They won't take the money that I have, but they want me to find another way to give them my money. I have told everyone I know about this experience and will continue to suggest that they NOT shop Sears this holiday season or any other time.

Any suggestions on how to make myself feel better and/or how to get my furniture?

Thanks!

Leah

[sweeps]

Are the table and chairs in Sears "Home Center" catalog? You can request to have them mail you a catalog. http://www.searshomecenter.com/homecenter/default.asp

I don't think that would count as an online purchase?

[Russell]

That sucks. This is what their website has to say about the gift cards:

The Gift Card is redeemable for merchandise and services purchased in conjunction with merchandise at participating Sears, Roebuck and Co. store locations in the United States and Puerto Rico. Gift Cards cannot be mailed to PO Boxes or APO/FPO addresses. It cannot be redeemed for online purchases, cash or applied to your Sears credit accounts. Lost, stolen or damaged Gift Cards may be canceled and replaced with the required proof of purchase except where prohibited by law. Sears Gift Cards sold on or prior to 12/16/03 expire 2 years from date of issue unless issued in CA, MA or NH. Sears Gift Cards sold after 12/16/03 do not expire.

I would call their customer service and politely try to resolve the issue. Maybe they'll refund the money, afterall you're ordering their product.

If not, unfortunately, the only option you have left is to sell the card on ebay/craigslist etc. Of course, the card will sell for a bit less than $300 but at least you'll still be able to use most of the money towards buying what you want.

Goodluck and BTW, congratulations on your wedding

[Dingoluv4eva]

From reading this, i kinda get the hint, that GIFT CARDS are not returnable.

Meaning u bring the relative or friend that bought it originally, (hopefully still has the receipt)

u go to sears and rip a new a hole in the manager, tell them to give u cash back, and tell them u're taking your business elsewhere and buying the set u want somewhere else.

i get the feeling that wouldn't work from reading the responses.
which would be BS.. i think giftcard or not, it should be refundable.

[Dingoluv4eva]

Read their GIFT CERTIFICATE fine print..
It appears as long as your in law still has a receipt for the purchase of it, theres nothing in that fine print that should disallow you to return the card, and use the money as cash on your purchase, or take it somewhere else..

This is a very frustrating situation, i feel for ya man, now that i'm frustrated by this myself, maybe u can take one for the team, and knock the sales clerk at sears out.. Give him a nice lil shinner..

[lvhocken]

Thanks for all of your suggestions. I have to give them the numbers from the website/catalog so that they can see if there's some way they can order it through the store for me.

The thing that is so frustrating for me is this. I checked online for gift certificates. You can BUY them online, you just can't USE them online (how stupid is that). I didn't tell my in-laws that the set I wanted was from an online catalog, so they couldn't have known it might be a problem. Even if they knew, however, the fine print that says that you can only use them for in-store purchases is really tiny and at the bottom of the page. I think that most logical people would, naturally, assume that if you don't have to go to a store to buy them, then you don't have to go to a store to use them.

I'm still frustrated, but I am getting more calm every day. Mind you, I didn't actually post this thread until 2 weeks after I found out about the problem. Why do things have to be so complicated? I have honestly never had such a hard time getting someone to take my money before. If only the people I pay my bills to didn't want my money!

Anyway, thanks again for all of your suggestions. I'll let you know what happens.

[Mamaw]

WHen Mr. Sears was alive he was proud of his service. They say he took things back that didn't come from Sears just to keep up his name.
I bought a housecoat there which ripped under the arm. The manager said they had never carried that housecoat in the store so I walked him over to the rack of them. Then you hear Sears complaining there business is off and they don't know why,

[lvhocken]

I have noticed a distinct drop in the quality of their customer service since the merge with Kmart. Kmart isn't a bad store, but the type of service that you and I received was more expected from them than from Sears. It looks like, rather than Kmart elevating to the level Sears once was, Sears is reducing itself to a mallshop version of Kmart. It's no wonder both stores are getting killed by Walmart (which I hate and refuse to ever, ever shop at ... I'd rather pay triple, but that's a different post). After I get this straightened out, I sincerely doubt that I will ever shop Sears again. Thanks for the post, though. I'm glad I'm not the only one to have had a truly terrible experience.

Originally Posted by Mamaw

WHen Mr. Sears was alive he was proud of his service. They say he took things back that didn't come from Sears just to keep up his name.
I bought a housecoat there which ripped under the arm. The manager said they had never carried that housecoat in the store so I walked him over to the rack of them. Then you hear Sears complaining there business is off and they don't know why,

[Luv2shop]

Sell the gift card on ebay ( you will most likely only lose a few dollars).Then use the cash to buy what you want. Look up gift cards on Ebay and see what they are going for. Good luck